Combined snuffer and gas trap



Jan. 21, 1930.

D. L. MOORE COMBINED SNUFFER AND GAS TRAP Original Filed Sept. 16. 1926 Inventor pal/11L, ifoore Attorney Patented Jan. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE DAVID L. MOORE, 0F BARTLESVILLE, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNQR TO PH I LLIPS PETROLEUM COMPANY, OF BARTLESVILLE, OKLAHOMA COMBINED SNUFFER AND GAS TRAP Application filed SeptemberlG, 1926, Serial 'No. 135,898. Renewed October 26,1929

This invention relates to improvements in oil or gas well equipment, and more especially toa combined snuifer and gas trap, which not only serves to extinguish or snuff out oil or gas well fires, but also serves, when desired, to trap and remove all poisonous and undesirable gases from the well casing.

One advantage of the device is that it will extin uish gas fire of'large volume, particularly beneath the derrick floor. Secondly, it Willi no way interfere with the men at work on th derrick floor. Then t0o,fby extinguishing the fire, loss of rig and tools is entirely obviated.

An equally important advantage is in the gas trap, forming the distinguishable and salient part of the invention, which will carry off the large volumes of gases, preventing the same from reaching the derrick floor, and causing injury to the workmen thereon. Not only this, it Willgreatly reduce fire hazards, and it may be used at all times while drilling in gas formations.

Briefly, the invention has reference to a structure which comprises primarily two parts; first, the snuifer or fire extinguisher and secondly, the gas trap, these two parts being connected together into a single unit, and being constructed so as to permit them to be incorporated in the well casing without requirement of alterations of the latter.

Other features and advantages and the specific details of construction will become apparent from the following description and drawings In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation with portions broken away and shown in section, disclosing the entire device and the association of the parts.

2 is a horizontal section taken approx;

imately upon the plane of the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrow.

In the drawing, the reference character 1 designates generally the so-called snufter. This comprises a central pipe 2 surrounded by a casing 3. One end of the pipe pro ects below the casing as at 4 and is screw threaded for connection to the adjacent section of the well casing (not shown). The intermediate spaced points in staggered relation in order to produce a counter-current in the gases as they come up from the well casing.

The reference characters 6 designate simple connections for steam conducting pipes. The steam is of course generated in a boiler (not shown). The trap is generally designated by the reference character 7 and this comprises a cas1ng 8 of the configuration shown, the same belng connected at its bottom to the extended upper end of the aforesaid pipe 2. The nterior of this casing constitutes an expansion chamber for the gases. At the top of the casing, is a screw threaded connection 9 to connect to an adjacent connection of the well casing. On one side,.adjacent the center of the casing is a relatively small steam supply pipe 10, while at a diametrically opposite s de is the gas discharge 11 which is of a considerably large diameter in comparison to the pipe 10.

Attention is also called to a small L-shapet tube 12 which extends into the discharge 11. As before indicated, the pipes 6 serve to supply steam from the boiler and modifying the arising gases coming up from the well cas mg. This steam passes into the chamber formed between the casing 3 and the pipe 2, and then passes through the diametricallv disposed and staggered slots in the pipe. where, as before stated, a counter-current in the gases is produced. The trap being built on top of the snuffer, provides an expansion chamber, causing the gases to lose velocity.

Thetube 12 projecting into the discharge,

supplies a steam jet which creates a vacuum and which in conplnction with the pressure produced through the steam pipe 10, serves invention claimed, may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is h 1. In a combination snuffer and gas trap of the class described, a gas trap comprising a casing, a relatively small steam supply pipe connected with one side of the casing, a relatively large gas discharge pipe connected to a substantially diametrically opposite side of the casing, and a substantially L-shaped steam conducting tube located in said discharge pipe and having its discharge branch disposed outwardly, and means carriedby said casing whereby it may be connected with a well casing.

2. A combined snufler and gas trap having an opening in its top, and provided with an outlet, and fluid-pressure means for directing to the outlet and away from the o ening,

gas which rises in the combined snu er and gas trap.

A combined snufler and gas trap having an outlet, a tubular member in the topv of the 5 combined snuffer and gas trap and provided intermediate its ends with a nozzle discharg ing into the outlet, and means for admitting fluidressure into the tubular member.

4;. n a device of the character described, tubular means adapted to be interposed in a well casing, means cooperating with the tubular means for breaking up the continuity of the upward flow of the well fluid, a lateral branch for the tubular means arrangedabove the breaking means, and means for inducing the well fluid to flow through said lateral branch.

5. In a device of. the character described, tubular means adapted to be inserted in a well casing, provided with slots to admit steam into the tubular means for breaking up the continuity of the upward flow of well fluid, said tubular means including an expansion chamber arranged above said slots, a lateral branch extending from the expansion chamber, and means for inducing the flow of well fluid-from the expansion cham-v ber through said lateral branch.

6. A device of ,the character described, comprising tubular means adapted to be interposed in a well casing, means for introducing steam into the tubular means in such manner as to break up the continuity of the upward flow of well fluid through the casing, a

lateral branch leading from the tubular means, and means having an outlet in said lateral branch for introducing a pressure fluid into the branch to divert the upward flow of the well fluid through said lateral branch.

7. In a device of the character described, a

for feeding steam through said slots, a portion of the tubular member above the slots being enlarged and forming an expansion chamber, a lateral branch leading from the expansion chamber, and means having an outlet within the lateral branch for directing a pressure fluid into said branch to cause well fluid from the expansion chamber to through said branch, and .a steam introducing plpe connected to the expansion chamber portion of the tubular member and arranged substantially coaxial with the axis of said branch.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 5

DAVID L, MOORE. 

